Customer Reviews

The Cowboys (Matt)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book due to the wonderful reviews it received by other Amazon readers. I find it be unworthy of the praise received. It is merely an average book for several reasons. First, the reasons for the main characters forced marriage was unbelievable. Second, the reason for Ellen's fear of men and being touched was unbelievable. Third, the coincidence of multiple cases of sexual molestation was an awkward plot development that probably shouldn't have been included. Fourth, Ellen was a very annoying and unworthy heroine. She didn't deserve Matt and was never able to redeem herself in my mind. When she turned away from him after his confession, I wish Matt had left her. Not a good thought for a hopeless romance addict. While I applaud the author's efforts for approaching a difficult subject, the novel was definitely lacking in the poignancy I think the author was trying to achieve.

I loved this book! It is the best one written of all the orphans that Jake and Isabelle adopted. It is sad how Matt could not stand to be touched or feel close to any of his brothers because of the abuse he suffered at the hands of his uncle. But, I admired the way Matt was able to help other boys when he got older because of what happened when he was a boy. I think Ellen was the right woman to help Matt see the kind of man that he was in taking care of his own family. The kids were also great in breaking through Matt's feeling of not being worthy and letting people get close to him.

I also loved seeing how the other orphans who had gotten married and started families of their own and adopted also (Drew) were doing. I like how close all of Jake and Isabelle's kids remain close giving the rocky start that had when they first came together as a family. Isabelle is totally awesome! When someone does any injustice to one of her kids she is one mother who will not sit by and not say anything, even though that are all grown. I can't wait to read the next 'Cowboys' book! Will it be about Will, the fun loving, drop dead gorgeous one or about Bret, the one who never really fit it with the others. I hope Mr. Greenwood does not keep us waitng too long!

In 1883 in the Texas Hill Country, Matt Haskins worries that he will lose the two boys he brought into his home as a form of repayment from his own adoption. However, because one of them suddenly inherited a fortune, "loving" relatives now want the child. He could have ridden out the storm since no one previously wanted the lads, except that Reverend Sears insists that bachelor Matt is unsuited to raise two youngsters even if one is already sixteen. He needs a wife.

The townsfolk treat Ellen Donovan like a pariah for taking in the two children of a deceased bar maid and for working at a saloon. Since Reverend Sears came to town, Ellen's continual raising of the two kids has become questionable. She needs a husband.

Matt and Ellen talk about a business agreement in which they will marry and raise four children, but no permanent relationship will form. Once the children are safe and secure, Ellen plans to leave, but neither she nor Matt counted on love entering their marriage of convenience.

Award winning Leigh Greenwood takes an overused device to forge his western relationship drama, yet manages to keep the tale fresh due to his strong characters. The lead couple is a delightful duo who share a similar history while the support cast (the four children, his adopted family, and much of the townsfolk) provide profundity not often seen in the sub-genre. THE COWBOYS: MATT will send new readers looking for the previous seven "Cowboy" tales as well as the author's quite pleasing "Seven Brides" series.

Harriet Klausner

Very good book as all of Greenwoods books are.
I have the cowboy series, and Matt is one of my favorite books in the series. A very well written book about sexual child abuse and the effects it has on childern, even in the eighteen hundrens.
I was heartbroken to learn the Lee Grteenwoods publishers have made him start on a new series before finishing the Cowboy series.

I love the Cowboys Series, Luke and Matt are my favorites, I was sorry to hear that Mr. Greenwood can not finish the series at this point. I really hope that his publisher will let him finish the remaining orphans to make the series complete..oh please,oh please

sad in New Hampshire

I have read all of the Cowboys books and Matt is the best one that has been done of the orphans. I think it was sad how Matt could not stand to be touched or feel close to his adopted family because if what his uncle did to him when was a boy. As a result, I also admired the way protected other boys no matter what the circumstance. I think Ellen was the right woman to help him see that he was a worthy of love and that he should not be afraid of letting others get close to him. The children fit right in helping Matt overcome his fears of letting people in and getting close to his family.

I also loved seeing how the other orphans were doing who had gotten married and started families of their own and some who also adopted children as well. I especially like seeing Isabelle fight any injustice that is done to any of her boys, even though they are all grown. No wonder they all love her so much! I can't wait for the next 'Cowboys' book to come out. I can't decide whose story I want to read about next: Will, who is the best looking and fun loving of the boys, or Bret who never fit in and is most estranged from the others. Another good one soon Mr. Greenwood!

Leigh Greenwood is an exceptional author. Matt lived up to my expectations and then some. The story was handled with compassion,understanding, and trust. Matt quickly turned into a full fledged 3D character who reached out from the pages to become real. Awesome book!

I've read several reviews stating that the topic of sexual molestation shouldn't have been included and though I will give it that it's a touchy subject for MANY readers, it is poignant to this story. One must read JAKE in order to understand why this point is so important. I read MATT first and though that part saddened me, I fully understood the need in JAKE.

Ellen is a somewhat annoying heroine once she learns the truth about Matt, but her own past prohibits her, albeit temporarily, to accept his confession. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed MATT. He is the sort of character you wish you could reach into the book and hug close to you just so you can comfort the tormented little boy still inside him.

This book was a passable western romance. Unlikely coincidences and the heroine prevented this story from being better. I found the frequency of sexual molestation to be too coincidental and not necessary for the poignancy the author was trying to achieve. Further, the heroine was somewhat of a shrew. When she turned away from Matt after his confession, I wanted him to leave her and find somebody worthy of his love. The author was never able to justify the heroine's bad behaviour and redeem her.
One item about the book that I really liked was that the hero was a virgin. Overall, I applaud the author for dealing with a difficult topic (sexual molestation of children), but this book is definitely a grade C.

I thought this book was well written and heart wrenching. I read it several times and every time I gleaned new nuances from it. I loved this book.